Inequalities for Pacific Island peoples
Social Report highlights inequalities for Pacific Island peoples
Press Release 8 August 2006 -
Service & Food Workers Union, Nga Ringa Tota For immediate release.
"The Ministry of Social Development's recently released Social Report highlights disastrous inequalities for Pacific Island Workers in Aotearoa," said John Ryall, National Secretary of the Service and Food Workers Union, Nga Ringa Tota.
Low hourly rates for Pacific
workers
The report shows that in June 2005, Pacific
Island workers faced a median hourly rate of $13.79 per
hour. While this rate is low, it disguises the much lower
average for Pacific Island women as a group. This compared
poorly with Europeans who had the highest median hourly rate
of $17 an hour.
Dangerous jobs for Pacific and Maori
workers
Pacific Island and Maori workers were
significantly over-represented in low paid jobs. These jobs
were clearly more dangerous, with accident rates Pacific
Island and Maori workers much higher than for workers of
other ethnicities.
Income disparities increase
Since
1998, the top 20% of income earners have had an increase of
30% in their income. In the same time period, those on the
lowest incomes have barely experienced an increase at all.
Pacific Island Families scraping by on low
incomes
There has been no change in the number of Pacific
Island families living on insufficient resources - in fact
the Social Report notes that being a Pacific Island family
was the feature most likely to determine a lack of
resources. Long lasting low family incomes have an extremely
negative impact on children, resulting in poor health and
low educational achievement. The proportion of children
living in low-income families is higher than it was in 1998
with 54% of families with a Pacific Island member having low
living standards.
Overcrowding - Pacific Island families
are living in overcrowded settings
41% of Pacific Island
families living in homes needing 2 or more additional
bedrooms. There was a clear correlation between income
levels and levels of overcrowding.
Pacific Island
workers face severe hardship and are campaigning for
change.
"Pacific Island workers want to have real
choices about their lives, their education and their
housing, but low wages keep them locked in the poverty
cycle."
"That's why cleaners are campaigning for better jobs, respect for the work they do, and better lives for their families through our union's Clean Start campaign," said Mr Ryall
Auckland cleaner Sue Lafaele said "we are campaigning for a Clean Start in the cleaning industry and telling property owners and contract cleaning firms to take responsibility for the poverty wages that are destroying our lives."
No bank will give us a loan to buy a house for
our family
"What we would really like is to have a house
for our family, but how can we afford a house on these
wages? No bank will ever give me a loan when I earn $10.95
and how can I save money on my wages?" said Ms Lafaele.
We feel like second-class citizens
"We came to New Zealand to work so our kids could get a better education and a better life, but the reality is that life in New Zealand working as a cleaner is really hard. We feel like second class citizens." said Ms Lafaele.
Why can't I buy new socks like everyone else?
"My socks have holes in them. That's because I have to buy my socks from the second hand shop. I can't even afford the two-dollar socks from K-Mart," said Ms Lafaele.
"Cleaners need respect for our work and to be paid a living wage - why shouldn't I be able to buy new socks like everyone else?" Sue asked.
ENDS